JACKSON-VANIK AMENDMENT IS CANCELED NOT BECAUSE OF POLITICAL MOTIVES
Regnum, Russia
March 9 2006
The US Congress recommended to cancel Jackson-Vanik amendment towards
Ukraine. Official Kiev, along with other countries of ex-USSR has
been struggling for denunciation of Jackson-Vanik amendment since
their independence. Ukrainian President Yushchenko noted that during
last months, the US suppored Ukrainian reforms and already recognized
Ukraine as a country with market economy. Signature of bilateral
protocol between Ukraine and the US on condition of access to goods
and services market represents strategic partnership between the
two countries. The US will aid in stirring up trade relations and
new investments.
The question of abolishing the Jackson-Vanik amendment regarding Russia
has been discussed during the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov in the US. American Ambassador in Russia William Burns stated
that the US administration would seek abolition of the Jackson-Vanik
amendment regarding Russia, but currently, it has practically no
effect on Russia.
Experts do not bound cancellation of the amendment with the change of
political regime in Ukraine, because it has been canceled to Georgia
in 2000, when no one heard about Mikhail Saakashvili, and with Armenia
Jackson-Vanik amendment was canceled on November 2004.
REGNUM Information: Jackson-Vanik requirements were introduced in
1974 in US Law on Trade regarding the USSR. It was an initiative of
the Jewish community, because the USSR hampered Jewish emigration.
The amendment bans official credits to the countries that limit
emigration of its citizens. It also presumes that goods imported in
the USA from countries with non-market economy are under the effect of
discriminative tariffs and taxes if the country hampers its citizens’
right to emigrate in any way. The Jackson-Vanik amendment is still
acting regarding Russia and many other CIS countries.

MURDERS, MYTHS, AND PUBLIC BROADCASTING
LA Voice, California
March 9 2006
When 1.5 million people die, you’d think it’d be a pretty open and
shut case. But PBS, the great provoker of thought, has an upcoming
documentary called “The Armenian Genocide”, which will be followed
on some stations by a panel discussion pitting genocide historians
against “so-called scholars” who claim the Armenian genocide was a
myth. Today’s L.A. Times carries an opinion piece by Aris Janigian,
local author and second generation Armenian-American, who denounces
PBS’ proposed debate.
Jacoba Atlas, the senior V.P. of programming at PBS says, “We believe
[the genocide] is settled history,” but thinks, “it seemed like a
good idea to have a panel and let people have their say.” And they’re
committed to it. According to genocide historian Peter Balakian,
PBS threatened to scrap the entire documentary if he and another
genocide scholar declined to participate in the panel.
Janigian denounces PBS’ idea as “perverse” and doubts whether people
would tolerate a panel discussion between David Irving, a “notorious
holocaust revisionist,” and Elie Wiesel, following a documentary on
Nazi concentration camps.
Janigian suggests the whole affair is an example of PBS “capitulation
to politics.” Turks, “America’s so-called allies” according to
Janigian, are fiercely protective of their country’s reputation and
even created Article 301 in their penal code, which makes it a crime to
“‘denigrate’ Turkey by, for instance, mentioning the Armenian genocide
in public.” And we all saw “Midnight Express”, so we know what the
Turkish penal system can do to a man.
It really is startling that there could be so much debate over such
an extensive crime. And yet I’m interested to hear how the deaths of
over a million people could be a “myth”. History becomes nebulous
almost immediately after it happens, with perspectives clashing
against perspectives, context colliding with subtext, all mixed
together with personal agendas, sealed over by the mists of time,
until reality becomes relative.

ONE KILLED, ANOTHER WOUNDED IN ARMENIAN TRUCE VIOLATION
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006
Baku, March 7, AssA-Irada
A 20-year-old Azerbaijani army soldier Parviz Jahangirov was killed
in the early hours of Tuesday after the Armenian armed forces based
in the southwestern part of the Gyzyloba village in western Terter
District fired on Azerbaijani positions. Another Azeri soldier,
19-year-old Muhiddin Nazimov, was wounded in a separate attack early
on Monday from the Armenian-occupied part of Fuzuli District, the
Defense Ministry has said.
The Armenian troops have been firing on Azeri positions for three
days in a row in an indication of the deadlocked peace negotiations
on the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict between the two countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US ENVOY OPTIMISTIC OVER GARABAGH MEDIATORS’ MEETING
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006
Baku, March 7, AssA-Irada
The US ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish has said he is optimistic
over the meeting of the OSCE mediators brokering settlement to the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh held in
Washington Monday and Tuesday.
The talks attended by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri
Merzlyakov of Russia, Bernard Fassier of France and Steven Mann of the
United States as well as the OSCE chairman’s special envoy Andzhei
Kaspshik come after the fruitless discussions between Presidents
Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian in the French town of Rambouillet
in February.
“I would like to reiterate that the co-chair representing the United
States, as well as the other two mediators are confident that these
talks will yield more positive results, as extensive work has been
under way for the last two years to ensure this. 2006 is a crucial
year that should see a decision made,” the ambassador said, adding
that future elections in both countries necessitate this as well.
Harnish also said that the American co-chair Steven Mann is due to
arrive in Azerbaijan on Sunday.

GARABAGH MEDIATORS MEET AFTER FRUITLESS TALKS
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006
Baku, March 7, AssA-Irada
The OSCE mediators brokering settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh on Tuesday continued talks in
Washington started a day earlier.
The meetings of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov
of Russia, Bernard Fassier of France and Steven Mann of the United
States as well as the OSCE chairman’s special envoy Andzhei Kaspshik
come after the fruitless discussions between Presidents Ilham Aliyev
and Robert Kocharian in the French town of Rambouillet in February.
The intermediaries, speaking after a closed-door meeting held on
Monday, said the “Prague process” of peace talks, which envisions a
stage-by-stage conflict resolution, has not been completed yet and
that chances remain for settling the long-standing dispute.
The American co-chair Steven Mann commenting on the results of the
Rambouillet negotiations, said both sides have achieved progress but
a number of serious issues remain to be resolved. He also said it
was important for the parties to accept compromises.
Although no details of the co-chairs’ discussions have been disclosed,
Mann said in an interview with Voice of America prior to the meeting
that the outcomes of the presidential talks held in France would
be discussed. “It is essential that a way to solve the problem is
found. Otherwise, the region may be faced with a humanitarian crisis,”
Mann said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HUNGARIAN COURT TO ISSUE AZERI OFFICER’S VERDICT MID-APRIL
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006
Baku, March 7, AssA-Irada
The Azeri officer charged with killing an Armenian colleague at a
NATO course in Budapest in 2004 stood trial on Tuesday.
The proceedings started with the presentation of the last forensic
expertise that examined the officer’s psychological condition during
the crime. Its results overlapped with those of the first expertise,
which does not favor the defendant, the Azeri embassy in Hungary said.
Armenia insists on the accuracy of the first examination indicating
that Safarov’s actions were premeditated, while the defense says he
was in emotional distress when reacting to the Armenian officer’s
insults of the Azerbaijani state and people, which is confirmed by
the second and third one. Under Hungarian laws, the defendant may
face from 15 years to life in prison for his actions.
Defense lawyer Adil Ismayilov said that the judge referred to the
first expertise, which was drawn up prior to the trial, i.e. during
the investigation, but did not approve the last two examinations
which are likely to mitigate the sentence.
Ismayilov said that in conclusion, the court scheduled two final
sessions of the trial. The closing statements will be heard on April 4,
to be followed by the issuance of a verdict on April 13.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MP SAYS PUTIN “BROKE THE PROMISE”
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006
Baku, March 7, AssA-Irada
An Azeri parliament member has said that Russian President Vladimir
Putin failed to “keep his word” stated to his Azerbaijani counterpart
Ilham Aliyev during his recent visit to Azerbaijan.
“During the visit, Putin promised to hold serious talks [on the Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh conflict] with the Armenian president Robert
Kocharian. But he failed to do so. On the contrary, after a phone
conversation with the Russian leader, Kocharian made his stance even
more acute,” the chairman of the opposition-leaning Whole Azerbaijan
Popular Front Party Gudrat Hasanguliyev said in parliament Tuesday.
He stated that if the peace talks stall after this, Armenia is likely
to recognize “the independence of Upper Garabagh”.
Armenian top officials earlier warned that the country may recognize
the self-proclaimed republic, following Azerbaijan’s warning on the
use of military action to solve the long-standing dispute.
Hasanguliyev further suggested tabling the issue in the Milli Majlis
and subsequently granting President Ilham Aliyev the right to launch
war without prior authorization from the parliament, if Armenia takes
the step.

PARLIAMENTARY HEARING ON ENERGY SECURITY OF ARMENIA TO BE HELD ON MARCH 25
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 9 2006
YEREVAN, March 9. /ARKA/. On March 15 2006, the RA Parliament is to
hold a hearing on energy security of Armenia. The hearing has been
organized by the Standing Commission for Defense, National Security
and Internal Affairs.
Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Artur Baghdasaryan earlier reported
that during the hearing the RA Parliament will discuss the prospects
for Armenia’s energy development.
Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs stated on March 7 that energy diversification is a
solution to the problem of Armenia’s energy security.

NATO PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER TO TRAVEL TO ARMENIA
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 9 2006
YEREVAN, March 9. /ARKA/. NATO Public Information Officer Despina
Afentouli to travel to Armenia to attend a seminar to be held by
Armenia’s Atlantic Association and Netherlands Security Institute on
March 9 to 12.
Armenian Foreign Ministry’s press service told ARKA News Agency that
Afentouli is set to meet Armenian media outlets representatives in
the ministry on March 10.
Armenia-NATO relations are to be discussed at the meeting.

JAPANESE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO ALLOCATE $73THND TO $90THND TO ARMENIAN NGOS IN GRANTS
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 9 2006
YEREVAN, March 9. /ARKA/. Japanese Government intends to allocate
$73thnd to $90thnd to Armenian NGOs in grants. Armenian Foreign
Ministry’s press service told ARKA News Agency small-scale grants
Grass-Roots Projects will be given to People Health, Goris Youth
Organization NGOs and New Armenia center as part of Japan’s official
assistance aimed at promoting development.
Grants will target schools for children having eyesight and ear
problems in Yerevan and Armenia’s provinces as well as secondary
schools in rural areas. The press release says appropriate agreement
is to be signed on Friday in Yerevan.